ENGM113

2010/1 Module Catalogue

Module Code: ENGM113

Module Title: COMPOSITE TECHNOLOGY AND SMART SYSTEMS

Module Provider: Mechanical, Medical & Aero Engineering	Short Name: SE3M37
Level: M	Module Co-ordinator: OGIN SL Prof (M, M & A Eng)
Number of credits: 15	Number of ECTS credits: 7.5

Module Availability

Short course

Assessment Pattern

*Components of Assessment*	*Method(s)*	*Weighting*
Continuous assessment	Post-short course assessment package	100%

Module Overview

This modules provides an overview of current applications of composite materials from design, through manufacture to repair and structural health monitoring.

Prerequisites/Co-requisites

None; however, if Introduction to Composite Materials is selected then that module should precede this one.

Module Aims

This course aims to:

• Provide a systematic understanding of many important manufacturing, design, joining and repair issues of concern in current applications of composite materials and a critical awareness of current problems with the technology

• Develop a conceptual understanding of the goals and limitations of structural health monitoring of composite structures, together with an understanding of the considerations involved in implementing many optical and non-optical smart applications, including process monitoring, structural/damage monitoring and damage limitation and self-healing.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course and associated assessment package, students will:

• be able to suggest solutions for a wide variety of simple composite design/manufacturing/repair problems

• be able to evaluate critically whether an optically-based solution is appropriate for health monitoring a particular composite structure or whether another solution is appropriate based on other smart concepts

Module Content

Properties of Laminates

Principles of Processing Polymer Matrix Composites

Processing Thermosets

Mechanical Design Criteria

Processing Thermoplastic Composites

Composite Design

Joining & Repair

Applications in Aerospace

Applications: General Engineering and Land Transport

Overview of Structural Health Monitoring

Introduction to Smart Systems for Composites

Basic Principles of Guided Waves and Optical Fibres

Optical Measurement Systems (Distributed and Point)

Optical Sensors for Process Monitoring

Optical Sensors for Strain and Damage Monitoring

Practicalities of Sensor Fabrication

Optical Self-Sensing Concepts and Deployment

Commercial Perspectives on Implementing Optical Systems

Dielectric Monitoring of Cure in Thermoset Polymer Systems

Shape-Memory Alloy Composites

Self-Sensing and Self-Healing Systems

Piezoelectric Sensor Systems

Methods of Teaching/Learning

Intensive five day teaching period including lectures, tutorials, problem solving and laboratory sessions, followed by assessment package of a nominal 120 hours work, to be submitted within six months (part-time) or six weeks (full-time) of the end of the course week.

Total student learning time 150 hours.

Selected Texts/Journals

Required reading - None